20: Chapter 20 First Encounter with Alchemy

He pulled Baili Yunche over to the stone platform and began to introduce, " I will first take you to familiarize yourself with the structure of the Pill Refining Room. "

" The Pill Refining Rooms of our Shendan Peak are built directly on the earth fire veins. According to the earth fire intensity and Formation Rank, they are divided into four Ranks: Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding. "

He explained in detail, " The Jia-Rank Pill Refining Room corresponds to Nascent Soul True Monarchs, capable of refining Medicinal Pills of Rank four and above. "

" The Yi-Rank Pill Refining Room corresponds to Golden Core Immortal Masters, and can refine Rank-three Medicinal Pills. "

" The Bing-Rank Pill Refining Room is the one we are currently in, corresponding to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and mainly refines Rank-two Medicinal Pills. "

" The Ding-Rank Pill Refining Room is for Qi Refining Disciples to practice in, mainly refining Rank-one Medicinal Pills. "

Speaking of this, Lin Maomao's expression turned solemn: " Little Baili Yunche, you must remember this well. Never mistakenly enter the Jia-designated and Yi-designated Pill Refining Rooms! "

" Inside are many Core Disciples of the Golden Core Stage. Those Golden Core Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters detest being disturbed the most when refining pills. If you accidentally break in, lightly you will be punished, and heavily... "

He made a neck-slitting gesture and lowered his voice: " The lives of us Alchemy Boys are not worth much in the eyes of those big figures. Killing us is just killing us; no one will ask an extra question. "

Baili Yunche's heart tightened, and he nodded heavily: " I have remembered it, many thanks to Senior Brother Lin for the reminder. "

" You are welcome. " Lin Maomao recovered his smile, pointing to a half-person-tall Formation Plate on the side of the stone platform,

" Do you see this? This is the Fire Control Formation, our most important tool. "

The Formation Plate was circular, entirely crimson, with nine circles of concentric rings carved on its surface, each ring covered with dense scale runes.

Embedded in the center of the Formation Plate was a palm-sized transparent crystal stone, which was glowing faintly at the moment.

" When refining pills, Senior Sister Su needs to concentrate wholeheartedly on manipulating the Fusion of medicinal materials and the Formation of pills, unable to be distracted. Therefore, the task of regulating the fire temperature falls on us. "

Lin Maomao explained while demonstratively striking in a few incantation formulas.

They saw the third circle ring on the Formation Plate light up, and the earth fire on the stone platform changed accordingly.

The flame height began to decrease, its color shifted from orange-red to light yellow, and the temperature dropped noticeably.

" Did you see that? By manipulating the Formation Plate, we can precisely control the intensity and temperature of the flames. "

" In the Dao of Alchemy, fire control is the key among keys; a miss of a hair can lead to a divergence of a thousand miles. "

Lin Maomao withdrew his incantation formulas, and the flame returned to its original state.

He then led Baili Yunche to the herb rack: " Our other important task is to process medicinal materials. "

" Before every Alchemy session, Senior Sister Su will inform us in advance of the required medicinal materials, and we must process all medicinal materials according to standards before opening the furnace. "

" Wash what needs to be washed, grind what needs to be ground, and slice what needs to be sliced. "

He pointed to dozens of jade boxes already sorted on the herb rack: " The medicinal materials needed for refining Medicinal Pills today have all been processed by me. Since you are here for the first time today, start learning fire control first. "

Baili Yunche listened attentively, engraving every single word in his heart.

About the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the stone door opened again, and Su Bingqing returned.

In her hand was an extra white jade box, the box lid slightly ajar, faintly revealing a crystal-clear blue lingzhi lying inside, exuding a faint chill.

" Senior Sister Su! " The two greeted in unison.

" Mhm, is everything ready? " Su Bingqing glanced at the herb rack, nodded with satisfaction, " Then let us begin. Today we refine the Rank-two Medicinal Pill qingxin pill. "

qingxin pill?

Baili Yunche's heart stirred.

He had seen this Medicinal Pill in Baibao Pavilion before; it was one of the more difficult ones among Rank-two Medicinal Pills.

The main material, Ice Heart Orchid, was extremely difficult to process, and the requirements for fire temperature control were even harsher.

This pill had the effect of clearing the heart and calming the spirit, as well as resisting the Heart Demon. It was beneficial for Foundation Establishment Cultivators making a Breakthrough past a Bottleneck and for Golden Core Cultivators crossing the Heart Demon tribulation, and it was of great value.

That Su Bingqing could refine this pill showed that her Alchemy attainments were truly extraordinary, and she was probably really not far from being a Rank-three Alchemist.

" Little Baili Yunche, you preheat the Pill Furnace first. " Su Bingqing instructed, while taking out a purple Pill Furnace from her Storage Pouch.

That Pill Furnace had four legs and six ears, was entirely purple and glossy, and its body was engraved with cloud patterns and crane shadows, faintly with spiritual light flowing around it.

" Yes, Senior Sister. "

Baili Yunche walked to the front of the fire control Formation, took a deep breath, and recalled the fire control essentials he had studied in the past few days.

He formed incantations with both hands, spiritual light flowing at his fingertips, and precisely struck it into the center of the Formation Plate.

" Hum— "

The outermost circle ring on the Formation Plate lit up, and the earth fire on the stone platform surged roaringly!

The orange-red flames completely wrapped around the Pill Furnace, and the furnace body began to turn red at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Baili Yunche concentrated wholeheartedly, continuously making minor adjustments to the incantation formulas.

Under his control, the flame temperature rose steadily, neither being too fierce to cause uneven heating of the Pill Furnace, nor being too slow to waste time.

After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the entire Pill Furnace evenly revealed a dark red color, and heat even billowed from the edges of the furnace lid.

" That is enough. " A look of appreciation flashed in Su Bingqing's eyes, " To be able to achieve such uniformity on the first preheating is very good. "

Baili Yunche smiled shyly: " It is all thanks to Senior Sister's proper guidance. "

" Next is the formal Alchemy. " Su Bingqing's expression was solemn,

" Refining qingxin pill requires gentle fire throughout the entire process; avoid fierce fire attacks at all costs. Junior Brother Baili Yunche, adjust the fire temperature to level-eight gentle fire. "

" Yes. "

Baili Yunche changed his incantation formulas, and the eighth circle ring on the Formation Plate lit up.

The earth fire flames immediately restrained, their height dropped to three inches, their color turned to light gold, and the temperature plummeted, but the heat became even more uniform and lingering.

Su Bingqing opened the white jade box and took out the main material, Ice Heart Orchid.

She wrapped the Ice Heart Orchid with spiritual energy and cautiously tossed the lingzhi into the Pill Furnace.

The furnace lid closed.

" Maomao, three qian of Octagonal Leaf. " Su Bingqing stared fixedly at the Pill Furnace, her Divine Sense completely immersed in it.

Lin Maomao quickly took a jade box from the herb rack and opened it. Inside were three qian of emerald-green leaves with serrated edges, exuding a cool fragrance.

After carefully weighing them, he handed them to Su Bingqing.

Just like this, under Su Bingqing's instructions, Baili Yunche was responsible for regulating the fire temperature, and Lin Maomao was responsible for delivering the medicinal materials.

The entire process was orderly; although it was their first time cooperating, they had an unexpected tacit understanding.

" Little Baili Yunche, level-seven gentle fire. "

" Maomao, five qian of Jade Pith Root. "

" Little Baili Yunche, level-six gentle fire. "

" Maomao, one century-old Vermilion Fruit. "

...

Time quietly passed amidst concentration.

Baili Yunche while precisely controlling the fire temperature, silently noted down the name, shape, and timing of introduction for each medicinal material.

He prepared to use his Divine Sense to probe the internal condition of the Pill Furnace, but on second thought, he was afraid of being discovered by Senior Sister Su.

In case it caused her batch of Medicinal Pills to be ruined, he would undoubtedly suffer a capital crime. Thinking of this, he could only suppress the curiosity in his heart.

An hour later, all the medicinal materials had been completely tossed in.

Lin Maomao's task was basically completed, and he retreated to the side.

Baili Yunche, however, dared not relax in the slightest.

Because next was the most crucial pill-condensation stage, and fire temperature control would directly determine the quality of the formed pills, or even success and failure.

Su Bingqing's expression also grew increasingly solemn.

She formed seals with both hands, strips of spiritual light striking into the Pill Furnace, and inside the furnace came a faint " gurgu " sound, which was the sound of medicinal liquid boiling and undergoing Fusion under high temperature.

Another half an hour passed.

Su Bingqing suddenly gave a low shout: " Little Baili Yunche! Level-nine gentle fire, hold steady! "

Baili Yunche's heart tightened, his incantation formulas changing in succession.

The ninth circle ring on the Formation Plate lit up, the earth fire flames restrained once again, leaving only a pale-golden flame an inch high, gently licking the bottom of the furnace.

The temperature dropped to the lowest, but the heat was like spring rain nourishing things, continuous and endless.

This was the key to harvesting the pills—using the gentlest firepower to let the medicinal power thoroughly undergo Fusion and condense into pills.

If the fire temperature was too large, it would cause the Medicinal Pill to scorch.

If the fire temperature was too small, it would cause the pill condensation to fail, falling short of success at the last hurdle.

Baili Yunche concentrated wholeheartedly, fine beads of sweat oozing from his forehead.

He mobilized all his Divine Sense, sensing every trace of fluctuation in the flames, constantly making minor adjustments to keep the fire temperature stable at its optimal state.

Brilliant colors flashed repeatedly in Su Bingqing's eyes.

She had not expected that this little boy participating in Alchemy for the first time would have such astonishing fire control talent!

This composure and precision were something many veterans might not even be able to achieve.

But she had no time to think more, her hand incantation seals changed again, and she gave a light shout: " Condense! "

" Hum— "

The Pill Furnace trembled slightly, revealing a tiny gap, and suddenly radiated light.

A medicinal fragrance as clear as a spring, refreshing to the heart and lungs, overflowed from the furnace cracks, instantly pervading the entire Pill Refining Room!

Upon smelling it, one felt their mind clear instantly, distracting thoughts vanished, and even the circulation of spiritual energy within the body became smoother by a fraction.

It succeeded!